Bath-cabinet.



No. 659,365. Patented Oct. 9, I900.

J. V. ELLIOTT =8. 6. IDLOB.

BATH CABINET (Application filed D00. 98, 1899.)

(lo llodel.)

. UNITED STATES:

PATENT men.

JOSEPH V. ELLIOTT, OF SANTA BARBARA, AND CLINTON IDLOR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BATH-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N0. 659,366, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed December 23, 1899. Serial No 741,485. \No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH V. ELLIOTT, residing at Santa Barbara, county of Santa Barbara, and CLINTON IDLOR, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, citizens of the United States, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath-Cabinets; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to produce a very light, compact, and inexpensive folding vapor-bath cabinet that shall be more convenient than those heretofore in use and such that the services of an attendant may be unnecessary when a bath is to be taken. The construction is suchthat when the apparatus is partly unfolded and-placed upon the floor the user can seat himself in proper position, as if the apparatus were absent, and then by a simple movement complete the unfolding,

thereby inclosing himself, leaving his head only without the cabinet. He may then at any moment release the part last folded and allow it to swing open gradually or instantly, according as it may be desired to cool off slowly or otherwise. When not in use, the apparatus may be folded flat and hung upon the wall or may stand upon the floor in a closet or other convenient place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in side elevation the apparatus as it appears in use- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same devices, a certain covering being removed to expose the framework which supports it. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the framework of Fig. 2 folded.

The apparatus consists of a peculiar folding frame provided with a covering, preferably of rubber cloth or the like. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the base of the structure is a plane rectangular frame A, of light wood, bearing near one end and on each side a plate bent up to form a pair of vertical ears B. Between the ears of each pair is pivoted one of the ends of a U-shaped frame C, which when horizontal may register with both the front and sides of the base while lying at a short distance above it in order that the cover may fold between the two without displacing the upper frame. A trifle above and in the rear of the axis of the frame 0 is pivoted a similar frame D, which swings down upon the frame C and registers with it in like manner, and at a point still higher and farther to the rear is pivoted a third frame F, the pivot being .so located that this frame folds down upon the others, but may be swung upward to become perpendicular to the base. In this latter position the free portions below the pivots strike stops G, which prevent further swinging in the same direction. The pivot H of the second frameis so located that when this frame also is perpendicular to the base it lies in contact throughout with the frame E. The sides of the base and of the first two frames are centrally connected by jointed braces I, pivoted to the frames at each end. One part of each brace is provided with a stop in position to allow the two parts to open and close like a knife-blade in its handle, but to arrest opening when the parts have swung so far as to slightly pass at the middle a straight line joining the pivots at the ends of the jointed brace. Each frame may thus be locked at a fixed distance from the next, but may be released by simply pushing upon the middle of the brace. The arrangement of the braces is such that when all are extended the second frame is vertical and in contact with the third and the first frame is held rigidly in a plane more or less nearly equidistant between the second and the base, as is seen in Fig. 2. The side pieces of the second frame are connected at their upper or front ends byoa rod J, having a U-shaped bend at the middle to pass around the neck of the person using the cabinet and having its ends pivoted to the side pieces just mentioned, so that although the bend ordinarily projects toward the end of the second frame it may swing downward into the plane of its own side pieces when the apparatus is folded. Flexible material impervious to vapor is socured to the outer edges of the base and the first and second frames, forming a front, upper, and lateral covering K, and the proportions are such that when the braces are all fully extended the covering is drawn taut. The third frame is also covered by a separate piece of impervious material, the frame and its covering forming the rear side or back of the cabinet, which the floor closes below.

The apparatus being thus constructed, it is laid upon the floor while the frame is folded, as in Fig. 3. The backis then swung to vertical position, a suitable seatis placed within the space bounded by the base-frame, the generation of heat or vapor is provided for, and the user seats himself, swings upward the frames 0 D in such order as he may wish, adjusts the braces, and is then inclosed, as seen in Fig. 1. If either set of braces be pushed toward the free ends of the frames and released, the swinging of one or both frames opens the cabinet half-way, and if both sets of braces be thus pushed, both frames fallinstantly and the user is left setting in the free air of the room'in which the apparatus is used.

When notin use,the apparatus maybe hung upon the wall, an eye L being provided for that purpose, or it may stand upon the floor, gravity keeping it folded, so long as the pivoted ends of the frames are uppermost.

It is obvious that the framework need not be of wood, nor is it necessarily rectangular, and in other respects the construction may be varied without passing the proper limits of our invention. From the description it is plain that the cabinet when of the form shown approximately fits the outline of the seated figure, so that there is little waste space within it and little unnecessary use of heat or vapor, medicated or otherwise, and that the frames maybe lowered as gradually as the user may desire or may be dropped instantly. This latter point is important from the fact that persons unused to such baths, and especially those having affections of the heart, are liable to sudden faintness. With this apparatus, however, the user has no need of an attendant in placing himself in the bath and runs no risk in using it without the presence of others, because he mayinstantly open the cabinet should he feel any approach of danger, real or imaginary.

It is further clear that while the form shown is adapted for a sitting position, varying, the proportions but not the principle adapts it for other positions.

What we claim is 1. In a bath-cabinet, the combination with a suitable base and a back hinged to swing from the base to a position approximately at right angles therewith, of a frame hinged to shut against the back when in such position, a covering connecting the marginal portions of the frame and base, and means within the covering for locking and releasing the frame.

2. In a. bath-cabinet, the combination with a suitable base and a back hinged thereto to swing from the base to a position approximately at right angles therewith, a frame hinged to shut against the vertical back and to swing therefrom toward the base, a second frame hinged to swing from the base to a position approximately midway between the base and the vertical plane of the first frame, means for locking and releasing the second frame, and independent means for locking and releasing the first frame, and a covering of flexible material connecting the corresponding margins of the two frames and the base, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bath-cabinet, the combination with a suitable base and a back hinged to swing from the base to a position at right angles therewith, a frame hinged to shut against the vertical back and having at its upper member the pivoted rod provided with the bend to pass around the neck, and a flexible coverin g connecting the marginal portions of the frame and base, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

JOSEPH V. ELLIOTT. CLINTON IDLOR.

Witnesses for J. V. Elliott:

RICHARD DoWELL, B. F. CRAWSHAW. W'itnesses for Clinton Idlor:

J. J. GUILFOYLE, H. A. HOODLEIN. 

